Chapter 113 You are a D-Class

At this time, all the lights in the venue went out, strong DJ music sounded, and the first lineup came out.

After the visiting team, He Zhongqiu was the first to come on the field and was greeted with warm cheers from countless fans.

"In terms of popularity, Wolverine He Zhongqiu is second to none in the Knicks and has long surpassed Alan Houston." Zhang Heli said excitedly.

"That's right." Xu Jicheng said with a smile.

He Zhongqiu jogged out and high-fived the fans, substitute players and management on both sides of the aisle.

"Wolverine, you haven't smashed a backboard since you took the money from Rick's company. You have become a slave to money. I am so disappointed."

"Mr. Zhou Chang, can I call you that now?"

"Haha, not yet."

"Then I wish you success."

"Three grams of oil!"

"Hey, Julia, do you want to touch some laps some time?"

"OK."

"Let's make a deal first. You have to touch as many times as I say. You can't just run away when you lose."

"It was your ex-girlfriend who ran away, not me."

He Zhongqiu casually greeted people he knew, came to Wu Jing and Yang Xue, hugged them, and let some media reporters take some photos.

He also introduced the two to Roberts and others and asked them to help take care of them.

"Wu Jing, he filmed Shaolin Martial King with Zhongqiu, and he's Li Lianjie's junior fellow student." Xu Jicheng said.

"The other one is Yang Xue, an actress, who is like a sister to Zhongqiu." Sun Zhenping said.

Zhang Heli said: "They have a very good relationship. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Yang Xue and Wu Jing were specially brought from Yanjing to watch the game, and they were arranged to sit in the front row.

The front row tickets for the Knicks are not cheap, they are the most expensive in the NBA, with a market price of seven thousand dollars and a black market price of tens of thousands of dollars.

Moreover, these first-row tickets are not available to ordinary people. Some of the first-row tickets are arranged by the league and the Knicks, who specially invite influential people to watch the game. They are given away for free in order to expand the influence of the NBA.

Look at who are sitting in the front row. They are all rich or noble, or top Hollywood stars, or sports giants. These people's tickets are basically free, they are given by the league and the Knicks.

The remaining front-row tickets are very few, and less famous stars can’t buy front-row tickets even if they have money.”

"Yang Xue and her friends' tickets were given to them for free by the Knicks," Sun Zhenping added.

The 99 acting class of Yenching University and Beijing Film Academy just received their diplomas and were planning to have lunch together to celebrate. Everyone was there except Yang Xue, who took a leave to go to the United States.

Some students from other grades also came to join in the fun. Everyone crowded into a classroom to watch TV. They were watching the game between the Knicks and the Hornets.

Huang Haibo, who graduated in 01, joked: "I don't know since when, we at Beijing Film Academy have all become basketball fans."

"If you don't watch the game, what will you talk to He Zhongqiu about when you meet him next time?" Jiang Wu joked.

"Brother Wu, you have graduated for almost ten years. Why are you so idle that you stay in school every day?" Huang Haibo said with a smile.

Jiang Wu's face darkened. I am here today to attend the graduation ceremony of my junior classmates from the class of 99. What do you mean I have to stay in school every day?

"Huh, that damn girl Yang Xue is actually sitting with Roberts? Her status is not even as high as mine." Yao Dazui said with envy and jealousy.

"That's not necessarily true. According to the standards in Taiwan, Yang Xue is considered a C-list celebrity, and you're only a D-list celebrity now. You're not as famous as her." Huang Xiaoming said.

Yao Dazui asked in confusion: "Where is the D-list? I've only heard of ABC-list."

"Ha ha!"

The whole room laughed.

Yao Dazui then realized that Huang Xiaoming was making fun of him for not having any status, and he couldn't help but glared at him angrily.

Cheng Kun then said in a gloomy tone: "Yang Xue can sit next to Julia Roberts, is it because of her status?"

Huang Xiaoming sighed and said, "When He Zhongqiu started to get involved in the industry, only Yang Xue was nice to him. She didn't have any movies to shoot yet, but she looked for opportunities for him everywhere.

How else could He Zhongqiu, a supporting actor with no connections, make it so quickly? The martial arts industry is dominated by Hong Kong, and it’s not easy to make it.”

"Yang Xue said that He Zhongqiu earned 8000 million US dollars from a sneaker contract. Wow, I can't imagine it." Dong Xuan said enviously.

Huang Xiaoming added: "Yang Xue is from Jiahua's agency, right? If she is hyped together with He Zhongqiu, she will immediately become a B star."

“Oh, Yanjing TV is so cunning. They have rebroadcast Shaolin King of Martial Arts twice in the past few months. It was broadcast again yesterday. This is the third time. It’s like Journey to the West. My new drama has no chance to be broadcast and it has been postponed again.” Guo Xiaodong sighed.

"Where are the playoffs for the Mid-Autumn Festival? It's attracting a lot of attention. If you don't broadcast Shaolin King of Martial Arts but broadcast your new drama, who will watch it?" Hai Qing teased.

"Ha ha……"

Everyone laughed.

……

At Madison Square Garden, it wasn't the game that was about to start, but NBA Senior Vice President Ross Daly was presenting the Best Rookie Award to He Zhongqiu.

Michael Breen said loudly: "Congratulations Wolverine, you are the first best rookie of the Knicks in the past 17 seasons since Ewing and Mark Jackson."

"Clap clap clap..."

When He Zhongqiu raised the trophy, the audience burst into thunderous applause.

Adam Silver, who was sitting in the second row, had cold eyes. After the last violent incident at Conseco, David Stern's approval of him dropped a lot, and many things were handed over to his competitor, Ross Daley, which made him very disappointed and unhappy.

The game started, and after the jump ball, the Knicks attacked.

He Zhongqiu entered the paint area from the left elbow, and Hornets center Magloire tried to defend inside.

In terms of height, He Zhongqiu is two centimeters taller. In terms of weight, Magloire weighs three kilograms. He is full of muscles and looks a little bigger than He Zhongqiu.

At the moment of the confrontation, He Zhongqiu thrust his chest outward, and the short explosive force shifted Magloire's center of gravity.

The next moment, with absolute strength bursting out, he crushed his opponent and squeezed into the basket.

"Zhongqiu is really born with supernatural powers. This is the advantage of strength!" Sun Zhenping said excitedly.

"Positioning under the basket, pass the ball quickly from outside!" Zhang Heli shouted.

Howard Ellis saw Wolverine entering the basket and was about to pass the ball, but David Wesley suddenly stole the ball, forcing him to almost make a mistake.

"Snapped!"

On the sidelines, Don Cheney saw that an opportunity was wasted and slapped his hands hard.

"Alas, there is no time. Zhongqiu has left the basket." Xu Jicheng sighed.

Alan Houston faced the defense of Byron Davis on the right wing and did not dare to be careless. After receiving the ball, he faked a shot and broke through after shaking his opponent.

Davis is a point guard, 191 cm tall, 7 cm shorter than Alan Houston, weighs 95 kg, 4 kg heavier. His pace is not slower than Alan Houston, and his strength and confrontation ability are stronger.

After being shaken, he immediately turned around to defend, kept up with the rhythm, stuck to the right side of Alan Houston, immediately exerted confrontation, and reached out to grab the ball.

Alan Houston was not as good as his opponent in the confrontation, his center of gravity was squeezed, and he almost lost the ball. He could only hold the ball and protect it, and failed to break through.

The Hornets played a three-two zone defense, focusing on defending breakthroughs and outside shots.

At this time, Mashburn, who was defending in a high position, had already double-teamed Alan Houston and took the opportunity to slap the ball away from him. Davis grabbed the ball and the two of them worked together to steal the ball.

"The mid-range shooting king made a mistake, the Hornets counterattacked with a fast break, the Knicks returned to defense, and He Zhongqiu was also running." Zhang Heli explained hurriedly.

The Hornets' two point guards quickly ran down the left and right wings, passing the ball to each other, leaving Alan Houston and Ellis, who were chasing them, at a loss as to what to do, and they quickly advanced to the frontcourt.

Mashburn rushed down the middle, so fast that the Madman couldn't get ahead of him and rushed in from the top of the arc.

At this time, Byron Davis, who had rushed to the left wing, suddenly pushed the ball high into the air in front of the basket.

The next moment, Mashburn rushed across the free throw line with the madman in his right hand, and jumped up to catch the ball after two steps.

When the madman saw that he couldn't be stopped, he immediately slowed down his pace and gave up defense.

"Snapped!"

Mashburn caught the ball with both hands and slammed it towards the basket.

But at this moment, a figure came from behind with a gust of wind, passed the madman, and suddenly rose from Mashburn's left side, flying into the air, like an eagle swooping down on a rabbit, with his big hands like eagle claws, hooking it with the backhand.

"Take it!"

There was a cold, hard sound of collision, and the basketball bounced. "What?"

Mashburn was horrified.

"Oh ho!"

Madison Square Garden immediately erupted in cheers.

"Oh ho!"

Spike Lee danced on the sidelines.

"it is good!"

"Wow!

Wu Jing and Yang Xue cheered and applauded happily.

"Beautiful, He Zhongqiu blocked Mashburn's shot." Zhang Heli shouted excitedly at the CCTV commentary booth on the sidelines.

"A very morale-boosting cap chase."

In the ABC-ESPN commentary booth nearby, Xiao Fan exclaimed.

"Snapped!"

On the court, He Zhongqiu jumped up again in time, snatched the basketball over Mashburn's head, and then passed it to the madman.

After entering the frontcourt, he entered the penalty area again. This time, Magloire took a front defense and was pushed away by him again.

The madman held the ball on the left wing and without thinking twice, he just threw the ball towards the basket.

"Ouch, the pass went astray." Zhang Heli exclaimed.

"It's mine, don't grab it."

The pass went a little bit to the outside and landed over Magloire's head. He Zhongqiu shouted secretly and jumped with all his strength. With his strong jumping ability and arm span, he still got the ball.

He jumped a second time after landing, and so did Magloire, who jumped again to block the shot.

"boom!"

"Snapped!"

"Di!"

The next moment, the sound of the ball hitting the basket, the sound of the ball hitting the hand, and the referee's whistle sounded almost at the same time.

"Oh ho!"

Madison Square Garden erupted in enthusiastic cheers once again.

Having succeeded, He Zhongqiu swung his right fist vigorously, making the cheers at the scene even louder and the cheerleaders' high-kick dance even higher.

"Wolverine dunks with both hands, Magloire commits a foul, two plus one." Zhang Heli shouted excitedly.

"Zhongqiu's attack under the basket is really amazing. If he is not a first-class defensive center, it will be difficult to defend him if you only rely on one person." Xu Jicheng said with a smile.

"He has great strength, is good at confrontation, and can get space under the basket. These are Zhongqiu's advantages under the basket," Sun Zhenping analyzed.

Nodding, Zhang Heli said: "Now Yao Ming is still a little thin, and he doesn't have the advantages of Zhongqiu under the basket, so he can't stand."

"He is already 135 kilograms. He has gained a lot of weight and looks a lot stronger. He will definitely be stronger next season," said Xu Jicheng.

On the court, He Zhongqiu was ready to shoot a free throw, still with one hand on his waist, shooting with one hand.

"This posture is so cool. No wonder the American media said it is a hundred times cooler than O'Neal's Alzheimer's-like free throws." Zhang Heli joked.

"Ha ha……"

Xu Jicheng and Sun Zhenping burst into laughter.

"Bang! Swoosh!"

He Zhongqiu made the free throw.

0:3, Hornets attack.

Like He Zhongqiu, center Magloire spent 85% of his offense in the penalty area. He wanted to enter the penalty area, but He Zhongqiu strictly controlled him and did not allow him to enter the penalty area, so he could only move on the edge.

Power forward PJ Brown is an accurate shooter with a hit rate of over 50% for both mid-range and long-range two-pointers. He pulled to the right corner, which forced Kurt Thomas' defensive position out of the restricted area.

Byron Davis carried the ball to the front right wing, Alan Houston was the main defender, and Howard Ellis in the high position was responsible for double-teaming.

"The Knicks also use a three-two zone defense," said Xiao Fan.

"David Wesley cuts in from the front." At this moment, Michael Brin shouted urgently.

At the top of the arc, when Howard Ellis was double-teaming the right wing, David Wesley immediately cut to the front and reached out for the ball.

Davis hit the ball, which went under Ellis and to the free throw line, where it was caught by David Wesley who cut in.

"Charge them in." Da Meng shouted loudly.

Kurt Thomas was unable to return to the basket in time, and He Zhongqiu, who was closer to the basket, moved sideways two steps and blocked David Wesley.

David Wesley passed the ball in time to Magloire who had the opportunity.

Magloire received the ball at the left waist, paused with his knees bent, and then took a jump shot.

His pause gave He Zhongqiu the opportunity to return to defense.

He Zhongqiu took the opportunity to take a step forward, then leaped up at the moment the opponent shot, and grabbed the basketball with his right hand like an eagle's claw.

"Take it!"

With a pinch of his five fingers, he dunked the basketball.

"Oh ho!"

Madison Square Garden erupted in cheers again.

"Wolverine delivered his second block at the start of the game. This rookie is in great shape in his first playoff appearance," Dream praised.

"Magloire's shooting speed is not fast enough, which is determined by his strength. If Duncan were to replace him, Wolverine would have no chance." Xiao Fan analyzed.

"It should be the same if Hakeem is replaced," Michael Breen said with a smile.

"Haha, that's it." Da Meng laughed happily.

"The Knicks made a fast break, the madman broke through and made a layup, oh, Mashburn committed a foul, it didn't go in, free throw." Zhang Heli said.

"The Hornets' perimeter defense is good, but Zhongqiu's defense was better today, with two blocks." Xu Jicheng said.

"And both of these blocks resulted in possession of the ball," said Sun Zhenping.

Next, the mid-range shooting king made one of two free throws, 0:4, the Hornets attacked.

This time, Byron Davis shot directly, went to the right wing three-point line, and made a quick stop and jump shot towards Alan Houston.

"brush!"

A splash appeared and a three-pointer was made.

“So accurate!”

Zhang Heli shook his head.

"There's really no way to defend against this kind of unreasonable three-point shot," said Xu Jicheng.

"Keep the tempo steady and play to the basket first." Don Cheney shouted from the sidelines.

The offensive tactics he formulated for the first quarter were based on the Wolverines' basket offense, combining inside and outside offensive tactics.

Fast break was not the main tactic in the first quarter. The first quarter was mainly based on positional warfare, which could give full play to He Zhongqiu's advantages in attacking the basket.

Although the Hornets' two inside players have good low-post defense, he believes that with He Zhongqiu's current ability to attack the basket and Kurt Thomas' ability to stretch the field, they can play high-quality offense under the basket.

Another consideration is that the outside breakthrough ability is not strong enough. The mid-range shooting king and the madman don’t break through much now, and the Hornets’ outside defense is very strong. He asked to reduce blind jump shots from the outside.

He Zhongqiu entered the basket again, and Magloire went around him and defended from the side, sticking close to him, even with his arms wrapped around him, making it difficult for him to push him away.

The referee didn't blow the whistle despite such a big defensive move, which made him realize that the defensive intensity in the playoffs is indeed much higher than that in the regular season.

(End of this chapter)